Legal entry channels to the EU for persons in need of international protection: a toolbox

Every year, tens of thousands of people risk their lives trying to enter the European Union (EU) in an irregular way, and many die in the attempt. Increasing the availability of legal avenues to reach the EU would contribute to make the right to asylum set forth in Article 18 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights a reality for vulnerable refugees and other persons in need of protection who are staying in a third country, often facing risks to their safety. It would also help to fight smuggling in human beings. This FRA focus seeks to contribute towards the elaboration of such legal entry options so that these can constitute a viable alternative to risky irregular entry.

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Legal entry channels to the EU for persons in need of international protection: a toolbox - FRA focus

This FRA focus presents a toolbox of possible schemes EU Member States could use to enable more persons in need of international protection to reach the European Union (EU) without resorting to smugglers. It does so by presenting different refugee-specific schemes – including resettlement, humanitarian admissions, the issuance of humanitarian visas (either under Schengen or national law), the lifting of visa requirements and temporary protection – as well as regular mobility schemes, such as those available to family members of persons residing in the EU, students, migrant workers and other categories of persons, which could be made more accessible to refugees staying in third countries.

In sum, this paper aims to describe possible ways to increase legal admissions into the EU of persons in need of international protection who find themselves in a third country. It does not deal with asylum seekers who appear at the border or are already inside the EU, and who are to be treated in accordance with the EU asylum acquis and in full respect of the principle of non-refoulement and of the prohibition of collective expulsion. Nor does this FRA focus deal with search and rescue obligations enshrined in international maritime law.